The £8m summer buy from Ipswich has been used sparingly up to now, but Black Cats boss Steve Bruce is ready to press the 18-year-old into action in Saturdayâs crunch game against fellow strugglers Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.
And, with on-loan frontman Nicklas Bendtner available again after being forced to sit out Sundayâs game against his parent club Arsenal, Bruce is ready to pair Wickham with the Dane as Sunderland go in search of their first away win of the season.
Stephane Sessegnon excelled as a lone striker against the Gunners but he will be used to provide ammunition from the left flank, with Seb Larsson switching to the right and Ahmed Elmohamady the man set to miss out.
âSessegnon created three massive chances against Arsenal, but I just wonder whether he can get us the goals we need at the moment,â said Bruce. âI know heâll create from the flanks so itâs in my thoughts to put someone else up front alongside Bendtner. It could be time for Connor.
âWeâve got to go to try to take the game to Bolton.
âThere was a reason I didnât play Ji or Connor against Arsenal.
âI thought with Ji coming back from Korea with all the travelling heâd done, it would have been unfair on him.
âConnor had had a groin injury and hadnât trained for 10 days before taking part on the Thursday and Friday. I went with Sessegnon as I thought [Per] Mertesacker would struggle against him, and he did.â
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spor...t-for-first-sunderland-start-72703-29627706/?
So:
?
And, with on-loan frontman Nicklas Bendtner available again after being forced to sit out Sundayâs game against his parent club Arsenal, Bruce is ready to pair Wickham with the Dane as Sunderland go in search of their first away win of the season.
Stephane Sessegnon excelled as a lone striker against the Gunners but he will be used to provide ammunition from the left flank, with Seb Larsson switching to the right and Ahmed Elmohamady the man set to miss out.
âSessegnon created three massive chances against Arsenal, but I just wonder whether he can get us the goals we need at the moment,â said Bruce. âI know heâll create from the flanks so itâs in my thoughts to put someone else up front alongside Bendtner. It could be time for Connor.
âWeâve got to go to try to take the game to Bolton.
âThere was a reason I didnât play Ji or Connor against Arsenal.
âI thought with Ji coming back from Korea with all the travelling heâd done, it would have been unfair on him.
âConnor had had a groin injury and hadnât trained for 10 days before taking part on the Thursday and Friday. I went with Sessegnon as I thought [Per] Mertesacker would struggle against him, and he did.â
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spor...t-for-first-sunderland-start-72703-29627706/?
So:
Bardo, Oshea, Brown, Ricco
Larsson, Vaughan, Catts, Sess
Bendy and Wicky
Larsson, Vaughan, Catts, Sess
Bendy and Wicky
?